Constrictive Pericarditis Presenting as Pleural Effusion of Unknown Origin

Evolution of Idiopathic Pleural Effusion

“…Pulmonary em¬ bolization was already ruled out in some patients in whom it was suspected. We believe that viral or mycoplasma infection could have been responsible for at least some of the effusions, but it is difficult to es¬ tablish these diagnoses definitely.36 In respect to asbestos, a previous exposure was not remembered by 32 patients. However, we believe that asbestos expo¬ sure that was not remembered by the patient could have been responsible in some of the cases.…”

Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Induced by Long-Term Bromocriptine Therapy: Report of Two Cases

“…Studies aimed at establishing the etiology (i.e., coronary artery bypass graft, uremia, malignant disease, collagenosis as the acute articular rheumatism, infectious disease as pulmonary tuberculosis, sepsis) were negative. 13 There was no exposure to other drugs potentially involved in lung or pericardium fibrosis such as dantrolene, 14 clozapine, 15 or antineoplastic therapy. 16 Considering these factors, it seems reasonable to suspect that bromocriptine was the cause of these cases of chronic constrictive pericarditis and pleural effusion.…”

Constrictive Pericarditis Localized To Left Ventricle Presented with Left Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

“…4 A few studies report pleural effusion as a major presenting feature of constrictive pericarditis. 3,5,6 Our case is the rst report of unexplained left-sided pleural effusion as the presenting manifestation of constrictive pericarditis localized solely to the left ventricle.…”

“…1,2 In fact, approximately 55%-60% of cases are associated with pleural effusion. 2,3 In patients with heart failure, pleural effusion tends to be rightsided, and bilateral pleural effusions tend to show more uid on the right. However, it has been reported that pleural effusions are predominantly left-sided in most patients with constrictive pericarditis.…”